A dental implant serves as the root component of a prosthetic tooth. During a minor surgery, the dentist will surgically implant a small titanium screw below the gum tissue, and into the jawbone.

For the next several months, the implant screw and your jawbone will fuse together, during the process of osseointegration. Once osseointegration is complete, we will attach a support structure, known as an abutment, to the dental implant. After the abutment is in place, we will fabricate and place your final restoration. Thanks to technological advancements, implants can be used to support crowns, partially fixed bridges, full-arch fixed bridges, and fixed dentures.

Dental implants have become the gold standard for tooth replacement treatment, because of their many benefits. For one, dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth. Your implant-supported restoration will look, feel, and function just like your old teeth. When compared to other restorations, implants offer superior comfort, durability, and stability. Implants do not slip or click when you talk, laugh, or eat. For this reason, many patients find themselves with a greater self-confidence in social situations. Implants also prevent future bone deterioration, because they stimulate the jawbone, another major benefit over other restorations.

Yes. After treatment, you will be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods, hot or cold, without worrying about embarrassing slips, cracks, or chips. An implant-supported restoration is also impervious to tooth decay. Most dental implants can be cared for like your natural teeth, with regular brushing and flossing.

Dental implants are the best form of tooth replacement, so we try to make them available to all our patients. If you are in good oral and overall health, you will qualify for dental implants. There are no age restrictions for dental implants. Certain systematic diseases, such as diabetes, may interfere with your treatment. Smoking and tobacco use can also be a factor.

No. The dental implant procedure requires expertise, experience, and finesse. The device must be placed carefully to avoid complications or implant failure. For the best outcome, you want to choose a dental implant expert that had the proper education, training, and competence, like one of our professionals at Rockwall Oral Surgery.

Thanks to advancements in technology and techniques, implant procedures involve less discomfort than ever before. We use local anesthesia to numb the area and eliminate pain. We also have several forms of sedation available, to put you in a deep state of relaxation. Some sedatives also produce an amnesic effect, meaning you will have little or no memory of the procedure.

A bone graft involves the transplant of bone from a donor source to a recipient site, below the gum tissue.

There are four sources of graft material: the patient, another person, an animal (usually a cow), or synthetic materials from a laboratory. The source we use depends on your circumstance.

All grafting procedures are fairly similar, but the approach we take depends on the location in your mouth, condition of your bone, and the amount of time that has passed since tooth loss.

1. During the procedure, the dentist will make a small incision in the gum tissue to expose the underlying bone. Once the bone is properly exposed, we will place the graft material onto the area that will eventually support a dental implant. In some cases, we may cover the graft with collagen membranes or synthetic proteins to guide regeneration, and promote healing.
2. After the procedure, you will only experience a mild amount of discomfort. In fact, the pain is so minor; it can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen. To prevent infection, we may also prescribe antibiotics.
3. The graft material acts as the catalyst for new bone growth. Over the next several months, the bone will grow, thicken, and absorb the graft material. When the graft material is completely absorbed, and there is an adequate amount of new bone, we can proceed with the rest of the implant process.

Bone grafts are usually required if your jawbone is too thin or too soft to support a dental implant. The chewing action of your mouth places an immense amount of pressure on your bone. If the bone is inadequate, and cannot support an implant, the surgery will likely fail. In some cases, you may only need a minor graft, which can be completed at the same time as your implant surgery. We may also perform a minor graft, known as a socket preservation, immediately following a tooth extraction. This is a preemptive procedure that temporarily stops bone deterioration.